Body of deceased pilot arrives in Rajshahi, funeral this afternoon

The body of Squadron Leader Toukir Islam Sagar, the pilot killed in the Bangladesh Air Force training plane crash in the capital’s Uttara, has arrived in Rajshahi.

His body was flown by helicopter to Rajshahi Cantonment at 2:55 pm on Tuesday and then taken to his residence in the Upashahar area.

Toukir’s uncle Matiur Rahman confirmed the matter, saying that after hearing the news of his death on Monday (July 21), the family was taken to Dhaka.

Following a first funeral prayer held in Dhaka on Tuesday, Sagar’s body was brought to Rajshahi by a Bangladesh Air Force helicopter. From the cantonment, it was transported to his home by a hearse.

He added that the funeral prayer will be held at 4:30 pm on Tuesday afternoon, after which Sagar will be buried at the Sapura graveyard in Rajshahi.

Relatives said the body will be taken to the District Muktijuddho Smriti Stadium for the funeral prayer scheduled at 4:30 pm.

Sagar’s father, Tahurul Islam, is a businessman. Their ancestral home is in Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj upazila. However, the family has lived in Rajshahi city for about 25 years. They currently reside in a rented house in Upashahar area.

Since the crash on Monday, neighbours, relatives, and curious onlookers have gathered in front of the house named ‘Ashroy.’

On Monday afternoon, under the supervision of the Air Force, Tahurul Islam, Sagar’s mother Saleha Khatun, maternal uncle Mohammad Ali, younger sister Srishti Khatun and her husband Dr Tuhin Islam were taken to Dhaka by helicopter. They returned to Rajshahi with the body.

Sagar’s wife lives in a government quarter in Dhaka and has also come to Rajshahi. The couple married about a year ago. She is a lecturer at a private university.

Toukir studied at New Government Laboratory School in Rajshahi up to class six and then joined Pabna Cadet College in class seven. He was a student of the 34th batch there. After completing higher secondary in 2016, he joined the Bangladesh Air Force.